June 16, 2025: A Lufthansa flight (LH752) en route from Frankfurt to Hyderabad was forced to turn back mid-air after a bomb threat emerged, prompting Indian authorities to deny landing clearance at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The flight, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was scheduled to arrive in Hyderabad early Monday but was still in international airspace when the threat was reported. Lufthansa, in an official statement, said, “We did not receive a permit to land in Hyderabad, and that’s why the aircraft took a U-turn and returned.”
Indian aviation authorities and Hyderabad airport officials confirmed that the flight was diverted as a precautionary measure after receiving the bomb alert. Though the nature of the threat remains undisclosed, standard aviation safety protocols were immediately activated.
No Casualties Reported
There were no reports of injury or distress among passengers or crew. However, Lufthansa has not revealed the total number of passengers onboard or any further details about the threat itself.
The aircraft safely landed back in Frankfurt, where additional security procedures were carried out.
British Airways Flight to Chennai Also Returns Mid-Flight
In a separate incident, a British Airways flight (BA35) heading to Chennai from London Heathrow was also forced to return on Sunday due to a technical snag detected mid-air. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner circled in holding patterns for nearly two hours before safely landing back in London.
British Airways confirmed the precautionary return and stated that all passengers and crew disembarked safely. The airline has not disclosed the technical issue or number of people onboard
String of Mid-Air Incidents Raises Safety Concerns
The back-to-back disruptions involving major international flights to India have raised fresh questions around aviation safety and response coordination. While both airlines have assured full compliance with safety protocols, further investigations are expected.